BHS boys hoops brings summer to perfect end

SAN DIEGO — The Burroughs boys basketball team has made steady progress throughout the summer, and things came together for the Burros in their final summer tournament.

By Anthony GentileSPORTS EDITORagentile@ridgecrestca.com

SAN DIEGO — The Burroughs boys basketball team has made steady progress throughout the summer, and things came together for the Burros in their final summer tournament. Burroughs went undefeated at the Grossmont Tournament, winning five games in three days to bring its summer campaign to a successful end."I really think we're on the right path — we're where we need to be with the summer ending," Burroughs head coach Doug Hayes said. Burroughs saved one of its better performances of the summer for its final game of the Grossmont Tournament, a one-point comeback win over Monte Vista (Spring Valley). After a back and forth first half, the Monarchs jumped in front the Burros midway through the second half."We got into some foul situations down the stretch, and with about 13 minutes left we quit rebounding as well as we should," Hayes said. "That allowed them to get the lead, which they held for a long time."Burroughs rallied to tie the game with less than a minute left, and trailed by two with 20 seconds left after a pair of Monte Vista free throws and a turnover. Without the ball the Burros needed their full-court man-to-man defense to create a turnover, and after two straight deflections out of bounds the Monarchs' inbounds pass was deflected to Michael Polman. Polman drove the length of the court and passed the ball to Caleb Felix, who made a layup, got fouled and knocked down the ensuing free throw to put the Burros ahead one with six seconds left. The Burros' defense didn't allow Monte Vista past half court, and the Monarchs shot a desperation airball as time expired."It was hard-fought and they earned it," Hayes said. "We earned every bit of that win and it was kind of a statement to the guys that if we lock it down, play hard, and go at it we're very capable. Monte Vista was extremely athletic and all the way around bigger than we were. That was a very good win for us."In its second game on Saturday, Burroughs held off University City for a 41-39 victory. The Burros opened up a six-point lead late in the second half and had to hang on down the stretch without starting point guard Michael Polman, whose contact was knocked out of his eye."We actually played the last six minutes with Will Christman on the floor while we were trying to get that contact issue fixed," Hayes said. "Will did a great job of handling the pressure and turning and facing the basket better — all of the things that we're working on with him."To allow Michael to play as hard as we need him to, we need to have that out of Will. I thought he stepped up and did some really good things that game."Burroughs beat Olympian (Chula Vista) 70-49 on Friday, Oceanside 58-47 on Saturday and Hilltop (Chula Vista) by 35 on Sunday in its other three tournament wins. The Burros traveled to San Diego without Calvin Martin and Biggie Hernandez, and Hayes said that every player that made the trip played well when given the opportunity."We got some big time minutes from our bench guys in a couple of games this weekend — they came into games and not only protected a lead we established, but also extended it. That's really what we're looking for our bench to do in those situations," Hayes said. "It was a huge end of the summer for our bench crew."During the summer, Hayes said varsity newcomers that improved included Christman, Jaelin Cross, Darnell Prince and Alex Rockwell. He also said he liked what he saw from the returning core of eight players that includes Matthew and Michael Polman, Martin, Alexander Ledford and Tyron Jones. "Our core guys are producing and steadfast on that path to becoming really good players — it's really fun to watch them develop and be more and more confident in what they are doing," Hayes said. "They're starting to figure it out — here's when I shoot, here's when I drive, here's when I can pass."Hayes has also been pleased with the progression of the Burros' offense, a motion set that allows for more freedom and decision making. He said he saw the team grow more comfortable with the offense during the past two months."It's a freelance-type offense, and to be able to play in that and generate as many points as we have without going to any kind of special plays says a lot about where we are," Hayes said. "The time we spent on the offense was probably the No. 1 thing that we did all summer, becoming more confident and more adaptable in the reads. They have definitely made the right steps to being successful in this system."Burroughs finishes the summer with a 14-8 record, a mark that doesn't include an eight wins and the championship in the Cerro Coso Tournament where they played a mix of freshman, junior varsity and varsity players. The Burros hope to build on their summer progress when fall practices resume in October, focused on their goal of winning a Desert Sky League title.